Improvement in stirrups



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. TOWERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS.

Specification forming part of LettersiPatent No. 38,995, dated June 23, 1863 antedated' June 18, 1862.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TOWERS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle-Stirrups; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making part of this specification.

Figure lis afront view of the'improved stirrup designed for the right-hand side ofthe horse. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the stirrup designed for the left-hand side of the horse, the two stirrups represented being in the relation they assume toward each other when sus-y pended from the saddle. Fig. 3 represents the under part of the improved stirrup full size. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same.

Similar letters in the figures refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention consists in f irming the outer side bars of the stirrups shorter than the inner bars in such a manner as to give an inclination inward to the foot rests or plates connecting the side bars below, in order to better adapt them to the proper position of the feet of the rider. The stirrups may be made plain, after the design represented in the drawings, or shoe-shaped, or fanciful and elaborate in nish, to suit the taste of the constructer, and of any suitable material. The outer bars, A, of the stirrups are shorter than the inner bars, B, the relaiive lengths of the two being such as to give the foot rests or plates C, connecting them together at the lower ends, a slight inclination downward as they extend toward the horse, for the purpose of better conforming with the bearing-weight of the feet of the rider when in proper position than if the said rests or plates were parallel with the loops by which the stirrups a-re suspended from the saddle. Not only does this peculiar relation of the foot rests or plates C of the stirrups render them more comfortable to the bearing 'of the feet of skillful riders, but it also has the effect of forcing unpractioed ones to turn the forward parts of their feet inward toward the horse, thereby causing the portions of the legs above the knee to rest or be braced against the sides of the saddle with just sufficient force to afford relief from their weight and prevent that fatigue that must otherwise ensue from the knees bulging or springing outward, as they have a tendency to do when stirrup foot-rests `of the ordinary form are used. On this account these stirrups are peculiarly well adapted to cavalry, artillery, and

other army-saddles, as, in fact, they serve to instruct riders in that part of the drill heretofore required to accustom them to keep the forward portions of their feet well in by the very act of pressing or resting them on the said inclined rests.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 

